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Steam from Exhaust?

Hey guys need some help took boat out for the first time this year at idle noticed steam from exhaust temp gauge never got above 180.Hoping it's from hot exhaust in cooler water,air temp today was around 80 and water temp mid 60's any idea's?

Yeah it's normal. It's the same effect that you see in a car's exhaust in cold weather. When the engine is cold, you'll see a pretty constant bit of steam. Then I tend to see it when you power up from an idle. Depending on conditions, you may continue to see a little bit constantly.

What is your normal operating temp? 180 actually seems a bit warm. Certainly not bad, but usually boats have 160 degree thermostats in them. If someone put an automotive thermostat in there, it would be at about 190.

Temps are pretty stabil till you reach the 200 mark. Since the cooling system is not a closed system like your car, and you are fresh water you can't go over the 212 or it boils and causes damage.

The best thing you can do for the boat if it runs hot is IDLE, this will flush the most amount of cool water though the engine and allow the engine to produce the least amount of residual heat from idling.

Steam is absolutely normal behind a boat when ever the water temp of the lake is less then the engine water temp. you will see it more when the air temp is also low.